Milo

March 12
I WOULD BE TRUE
Howard A. Walter, 1883–1918
I have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart on Your laws. (Psalm 119:30)
The yearning to achieve a trustworthy, strong, brave yet humble character is an unusual goal for a young person, especially in today’s self-seeking and materialistic society. The text for “I Would Be True,” however, was written by a young man in his early twenties in a poem that he titled “My Creed.”
After graduating with honors from Princeton University in 1905, Howard Arnold Walter spent a year teaching the English language in Japan. While there he sent a copy of his “creed” to his mother back home in Connecticut. Mrs. Walter sent the poem to Harper’s Magazine, where it appeared in the May, 1907 issue.
Returning to the United States, Howard Walter entered Hartford Seminary and upon graduation served as an assistant minister at the Asylum Hill Congregational Church in Hartford, Connecticut. One day he showed his poem to an itinerant Methodist lay preacher, Joseph Peek. Although Peek had no technical knowledge of music, he immediately whistled a tune suited to Walter’s words.
Several years later Howard Walter left for India to teach and minister to Mohammedan students. In 1918, a severe influenza epidemic there caused the death of this devoted young man. His credo lives on, however, in the numerous lives of those who have since sung this hymn and realized anew that God is more interested in what we are as a person than even what we may do for Him. In an environment today that can easily corrupt even the purest of minds, how important it is that we seek God’s daily help to live a life that is true.
I would be true, for there are those who trust me; I would be pure, for there are those who care. I would be strong, for there is much to suffer; I would be brave, for there is much to dare.
I would be friend of all—the foe, the friendless; I would be giving, and forget the gift. I would be humble, for I know my weakness; I would look up, and laugh, and love, and lift.
I would be prayerful thru each busy moment; I would be constantly in touch with God, I would be tuned to hear His slightest whisper; I would have faith to keep the path Christ trod.

For Today: Psalm 51:2, 10; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Philippians 4:8

Make this credo your personal goal. Above all, be “in touch with God” and “tuned to his slightest whisper.” Be a Christian who is known for his integrity. Carry this portion of the hymn with you as you go—

March 11
DARE TO BE A DANIEL
Words and Music by Philip P. Bliss, 1838–1876
But Daniel resolved not to defile himself… (Daniel 1:8)
Doubt sees the obstacles—Faith sees the way.
Doubt sees the darkest night—Faith sees the day.
Doubt dreads to take a step—Faith soars on high.
Doubt questions, “Who believes?”—Faith answers, “I.”
—Unknown
The book of Daniel is really a textbook of instruction and an example of how God’s people can live in difficult conditions and come through victoriously. Even as the Jewish people were living in Babylonian captivity, so Christians today are pilgrims and sojourners in a foreign culture. We, like Daniel and his friends, must exercise our implicit faith in God’s purposes and leading for our lives. We too must resolve in advance that we will not be defiled by the world. And whether our God delivers us or not from the fiery furnace, we will remain faithful to Him (Daniel 3:17, 18).
Daniel and his friends also personify for us Christian courage at its best—not merely a desperate type of courage for some emergency situation, but a quiet steadfast courage that enables us to live in a Christ-like manner each day. It takes courage to be an unpopular minority when truth and right are involved. It takes courage to defend God’s name when everyone else is using it in blasphemy. It takes courage to be another Daniel in a godless society.
This is another of the fine Sunday school songs by Philip P. Bliss, one of the truly important contributors to both early gospel hymnody and the rise of the Sunday school movement. Bliss, like many other Christian leaders, realized the unusual potential of teaching our youth spiritual truths through appropriate songs.
Standing by a purpose true, heeding God’s command, honor them, the faithful few! All hail to Daniel’s Band!
Many mighty men are lost, daring not to stand, who for God had been a host, by joining Daniel’s Band!
Many giants, great and tall, stalking thro’ the land, headlong to the earth would fall, if met by Daniel’s Band!
Hold the gospel banner high! On to vict’ry grand! Satan and His host defy, and shout for Daniel’s Band!
Refrain: Dare to be a Daniel; dare to stand alone! Dare to have a purpose firm! Dare to make it known.

For Today: Daniel 6:7, 10, 16, 22, 23; Psalm 27:14; Ephesians 6:11

God is still seeking people who by faith will dare to prove His greatness and will represent Him courageously—regardless of the circumstances. Let this musical line be the desire of your life—

March 10
SHEPHERD OF EAGER YOUTH
Clement of Alexandria, c. 170–c. 220
Translated by Henry Martyn Dexter, 1821–1890
Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, “I find no pleasure in them!” (Ecclesiastes 12:1)
Someone cried, “Where must the seed be sown to bring the most fruit when it is grown?”
The Master heard as He said and smiled, “Go plant it for Me in the heart of a child.”
—Unknown
It is vitally important that our children be led to a personal relationship with Christ and instructed in His Word when they are young. What truth there is in these familiar statements: “To save a child is to save a life,” or “Give me a child till he/she is seven and I care not who gets him after that.” D. L. Moody, the noted evangelist, once said: “If I could relive my life, I would devote my entire ministry to reaching children for God.”
Christian nurturing of our children requires consistent discipline. Webster defines discipline as “training which corrects, strengthens, and perfects.” Discipline goes far beyond merely being punitive. Discipline and training have done their job only when they result in a changed character and the desire to live with self-control. Although there may be times when our youth may rebel and react against their early Christian training, they can never get completely away from it (Proverbs 22:6).
“Shepherd of Eager Youth” is the oldest Christian hymn of which the authorship is known. Clement of Alexandria wrote this text in the Greek language sometime between a.d. 202 and the time of his death in a.d. 220. The title in the original Greek could literally be translated “Tamer of Steeds Unbridled.” It was evidently used as a hymn of Christian instruction for new young converts from heathenism.
Shepherd of eager youth, guiding in love and truth thru devious ways—Christ, our triumphant King, we come Thy name to sing; hither Thy children bring tributes of praise.
Thou art our Holy Lord, the all-subduing Word, healer of strife; Thou didst Thyself abase that from sin’s deep disgrace Thou mightest save our race and give us life.
Ever be near our side, our shepherd and our guide, our staff and song; Jesus, Thou Christ of God, by Thy enduring word lead us where Thou hast trod, make our faith strong.

For Today: Deuteronomy 32:46; 1 Timothy 4:12; 1 Peter 2:25

Reflect on this truth: The prized possession of any church is its youth. Seek to speak a word of encouragement to some young person.

March 9
THE LORD’S MY SHEPHERD
Scottish Psalter, 1650
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow Me. (John 10:27)
I will commit my way, O Lord, to Thee, nor doubt Thy love, though dark the way may be; Nor murmur, for the sorrow is from God, and there is comfort even in Thy rod.
—Unknown
One of the characteristics of the relationship that exists between a shepherd and his flock is that sheep can always distinguish the voice of their particular shepherd. The sheep’s responsibility is simply to listen and follow.
As Christians, we worship and acknowledge God as our Creator and Redeemer. But how comforting it is to realize that this same great God is also “my Shepherd.” In time of stress, I can rest securely in His strong arms. With the Good Shepherd leading, even death’s dark vale need not be feared since death to the believer is simply a release to God’s eternal home.
As members of Christ’s flock, we too must recognize our heavenly Shepherd’s voice. To do so, we must always remain close enough to hear it.
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” (Isaiah 30:21)
This lovely setting of the 23rd Psalm was originally put in stanza form for the Scottish Psalter of 1650, a collection that contained only the 150 psalms arranged in metrical form for congregational singing. The charming and child-like tune has only recently begun to appear in American hymnals. “The Lord’s My Shepherd” … for many children the first Bible verse learned and often the last repeated before entering “death’s dark vale.” A psalm of priceless heritage!
The Lord’s my Shepherd—I’ll not want; He makes me down to lie in pastures green. He leadeth me the quiet waters by.
My soul He doth restore again, and me to walk doth make within the paths of righteousness, e’en for His own name’s sake.
Yea, tho I walk thru death’s dark vale, yet will I fear no ill, for Thou art with me, and Thy rod and staff me comfort still.
My table Thou hast furnished in presence of my foes; my head Thou dost with oil anoint, and my cup overflows.
Goodness and mercy all my life shall surely follow me, and in God’s house forevermore my dwelling place shall be.

For Today: Psalm 23; 78:52; Jeremiah 29:11; John 10:1–6; Hebrews 13:20, 21; 1 Peter 5:7

Be sensitive to God’s inner voice with directions for your life. Determine to follow wherever He indicates. Abandon yourself to His divine guidance. Sing as you go—

APRIL 17

Reading 107

TAKING REFUGE Psalms 6–12“O Lord my God, I take refuge in You; save and deliver me from all who pursue me” (Ps. 7:1).When we sense our weakness, we hurry to take refuge in a majestic God who acts on behalf of those who love Him.

Overview

David, deeply aware of his weaknesses, took refuge in God (Pss. 6–7). God’s creative work (Ps. 8) and His present rule (Ps. 9) gave the psalmist confidence. Victims can find refuge with God the King (Ps. 10), who dispenses justice from His heavenly throne (Ps. 11).

Understanding the Text

Psalm 6: The Cry of the Faint.

In deep distress David experienced his own weakness, and cried to God for mercy. “I am faint” Ps. 6. Many expressions in the Psalms remind us of our frailties. This psalm of David expresses our weakness graphically. David, aware that he had no strength left to face life’s challenges, described his feelings of weakness. His bones were in agony, his soul in anguish. He was worn out from groaning; he flooded his bed with weeping and drenched his couch with tears. His eyes grew weak with sorrow. These expressions may seem strange coming from a man who boldly faced the giant Goliath and fought fearlessly against Israel’s enemies. But they remind us that there is nothing unmanly about tears, and nothing shameful in feeling helpless. They also remind us that we have complete freedom in our relationship with God to express our feelings to Him honestly. David’s words also help us understand why he is commended as a man after God’s own heart. David was totally honest with himself and with the Lord. He was realistic about his weaknesses, and honest about his fears. Dishonesty—an attempt to maintain a “macho” image—keeps us from acknowledging our weaknesses. And keeps us from full dependence on the Lord. Psalm 7: A Call for Judgment. God’s sovereign rule is partly expressed in His judgments on mankind. David called on God to judge (punish) the wicked and to make the righteous secure. “If there is guilt” Ps. 7:3–5. David did not fear to call on God to judge, for he himself had been careful to do what was right. It’s dangerous to ask God to judge others if we are guilty of their sins! “Arise, O Lord, in Your anger” Ps. 7:6. The Scriptures do teach the anger of God. But God’s anger is unlike ours. (1) It is provoked by sin and injustice. (2) It is righteous, in that it never overreacts nor is vindictive. (3) It may be expressed in present judgments on sinners, but most often is reserved for the final judgment to take place at history’s end. David’s call for God to arise in anger and judge is rightly motivated. David did not rejoice at the prospect of the wicked suffering. His concern was to “bring an end to the violence of the wicked and make the righteous secure.” We too can call on God to express His anger at the sins in our society. And we can work to implement just laws, intended not to punish so much as to end violence and make the righteous secure. Psalm 8: God’s Majestic Glory. God’s glory is glimpsed in creation, but is most clearly revealed in the Lord’s amazing decision to love and care for humankind. “What is man?” Ps. 8:3–5 David was impressed at the glory revealed in creation (vv. 1–3). Yet what stunned him was the realization that God has chosen to be “mindful” of mankind. The word means to pay compassionate attention to. Secular man scoffs at the notion that earth is any more than a tiny speck in a minor arm of 1 galaxy of 100 million stars in a universe estimated to hold 100 million galaxies! Yet David identified the greatest wonder: God bends down and pays close attention to this particular speck, for it is the home of humanity, and God has chosen to make human beings the focus of His loving care. “You made him ruler” Ps. 8:6–8. It is to man’s honor and glory that God has made us “ruler over the works of Your hands.” This position implies creation in God’s image, for God is ultimate Ruler of all things. It’s important to note the distinction between “rule” and “exploit.” Too often people have taken authority as a right to use things or others for one’s benefit. Here “rule” is actually “responsibility to care for” what God has created. Because God exercises loving care over us, permitting mankind to exercise loving care of the creation is a magnificent gift. It is what David here calls crowning “with glory and honor.” Psalm 9: In Praise of God’s Reign. God is known by His justice. His rule was revealed in the fate of the wicked and David’s enemies. “You have upheld my right and my cause” Ps. 9:1–6. David praised God, for he saw the defeat suffered by his enemies as evidence that God is sitting on His throne, “judging righteously.” Here David may be remembering the military victories won over surrounding nations, which enabled him to extend Israel’s territory and influence. “He will judge . . . in righteousness” Ps. 9:7–10. David celebrated the Lord, for he knew God not only reigns forever, but “will judge the world in righteousness; He will govern the peoples with justice.” Christianity is not, as has been suggested, a faith of “pie in the sky by and by.” It is a faith rooted in the conviction that God rules, and will surely judge. The conviction that God rules enables a person who is oppressed or in trouble to find refuge and hope now. Trust in God may not change our circumstances, but it changes us! The mere fact that we can experience peace despite persecution is the most convincing evidence that God is real. “The Lord is known by His justice” Ps. 9:16. Those who do not know God by faith will learn of Him later, for God is and will be known by His justice. The moral order of the universe means that the wicked will fall into the pits they dig for others, and their own feet will be snared in the traps they have hidden. Hitler’s Germany illustrates this. By treating others brutally, the Nazis became the cause of their own downfall and a vivid illustration of retributive justice. Psalm 10: The Psalm of the Victim. Because God takes a hand in human affairs, the victim can commit himself to the Lord as King. See DEVOTIONAL. Psalm 11: Righteousness Affirmed. The believer can take refuge in God, because God is righteous and will surely punish the wicked. “The Lord is in His holy temple” Ps. 11:4. This phrase is no call to worship, but pictures God standing in the place of judgment. The psalmist identified the “holy temple” with God’s “heavenly throne,” and said that from it God examines the sons of men. Because God hates the violence which the wicked perpetrate on the innocent, we can take refuge in Him. Even though the foundations of our society seem to crumble, we can be sure “upright men will see His face.”

DEVOTIONAL

Psalm of the Victim(Ps. 10)

The Greek philosopher Plato argued that it was better to have wrong done to us than to do wrong. Few today would agree with him. Being a victim seems somehow shameful, weak. But in Psalm 10, the poet explained far better than Plato ever could why victims are more blessed than persecutors. If at any time you feel like a victim-misused by your boss, by a friend, family, or even by “the system,” this is a psalm you might turn to. If you do you’ll find no prescription for changing circumstances. What you’ll find is a description of what happens inside the perpetrator, and inside the victim. The perpetrator (vv. 1–11) is described by words like pride, arrogance, and boastfulness. His apparent success feeds these attitudes, and prosperity leads the victimizer to assume he is safe. Others are dismissed as weak, and God either fails to know or doesn’t care. On the other hand, the victim (vv. 12–15) experiences his helplessness. This leads him to commit himself to the Lord. In his suffering the victim has nowhere to turn but to God. God, “King forever and ever” (vv. 16–18), hears the afflicted. The Hebrew concept of “listen” implies not only hearing but responding. God as Ruler of the universe will act to judge the wicked and to defend the oppressed. This psalm of the victim recognizes the fact that injustices may exist for a time. But it reminds us that the people who persecute us do so out of a deadly pride and arrogance, and will surely be punished. On the other hand, being victimized brings us closer to the Lord. How much better to be a victim who knows God, than a victimizer who scoffs at Him!

Personal Application

The next time you suffer as a victim, thank God that you are not the victimizer.

Quotable

Thrice blest is he to whom is given The instinct that can tell That God is on the field when He Is most invisible. Then learn to scorn the praise of men And learn to lose with God, For Jesus won the world through shame And beckons thee His road.-F.W. Faber